Problem Songs:
From the Banal to the Blasphemous

Don't Make the Same Mistake Others Have Made!
"Songs of Faith and Praise" can be Hazardous to your Worship Service!

Songs-of-Faith-and-Praise

What is the purpose of this page?

Are you singing without thinking? Or worse, are you leading singing without thinking about the songs you are choosing? Song leaders, like preachers and teachers, have a tremendous responsibility. Does your song leader take that responsibility seriously? Or does he take it lightly? Without impugning anyone's motives, I hope that at least we can all agree with this starting point: (1) it is better to think about what we are singing than to sing without thinking, (2) if a song is counter to what we find in God's word, then that song should not be sung in our worship service, and (3) poetic license is not a license to proclaim error.

Singing is an important part of our worship service. Although the church properly rejects the use of musical instruments in worship, we often are not as quick to reject songs that are clearly at odds with the word of God. Many of the songs we sing came from the denominational world, so it should not surprise us that some of those songs contain denominational errors. Indeed, some of the newest song books are the worst in this regard because they were deliberately designed to appeal to and be sold to the denominations that surround us. Thus, for those of us who use these new song books, it is very important that we pay particular attention to the songs that we sing so that those denominational errors do not enter into our worship service.

Most of the problem songs on this page are problems because they proclaim doctrines that are opposed to the word of God. Some of the songs are problems for another reason: they are trite, meaningless, and poorly written. God demands our very best, and we fall far short of that standard when we sing "camp songs" during our worship service. There may be a place for such songs, but the worship assembly is not it. Such songs have a tremendous opportunity cost. Each time we sing a song such as "Shine, Jesus, Shine," we have lost the opportunity to sing a song such as "Sweet Hour of Prayer" or "Trust and Obey." Most Christians don't sing more than 10 or so songs a week. Shouldn't we make sure they are good ones?

One particularly striking example of a problem song is the song "We Bow Down," which is Song #577 in the popular song book "Songs of Faith and Praise." According to that song, Jesus is not presently the King of kings and the Lord of lords, but he will be King of kings and Lord of lords someday--"King of all kings you will be." (Premillennialists teach the same false doctrine.) Worse yet, the song tells us that we are the ones who crown Jesus and make him king. If we are crowning Jesus king, then doesn't it make you wonder who is bowing down to whom? Doesn't the person who is crowned have to bow down before the one who crowns him? The Bible teaches that Jesus is presently King of kings and Lord of lords (Acts 10:36, Rev. 17:14, Rev. 19:16), and the Bible teaches that it was God (not man) who crowned Jesus King (Heb. 2:5-9). We will receive a crown from Jesus, not the other way around. (1 Pet. 5:4) The only crown that men ever placed on the head of Jesus was a crown of thorns. We obey Jesus because he is already our King, not to make him King! If Jesus is King of kings, then he is our King whether we obey him or not! I, for one, refuse to sing a song that puts me in the place of God crowning Jesus Christ King of kings and Lord of lords! If that picture is not blasphemous, it would be hard to envision one that is. It is very telling that, while I have had many people write me in support of that song, no one has ever even attempted to defend it based on the word of God.

What is the purpose of this web page? One purpose is to provide a list of these problem songs so they can be corrected or not used. Another purpose is to get people to think about what they are singing. The Bible is the inerrant word of God, but our song books are works of man. The first step in improving our worship in song is to start paying attention to the words we are singing! Yet another purpose of this web page is to discourage the use of a particularly problematic song book that is heavily used and promoted by those congregations among us who are well known for taking liberties with the word of God--"Songs of Faith and Praise," edited by Alton H. Howard.

One last point is that this list is not intended to include only "new" songs. Although I think that many of the new songs that we sing are very poorly written, doctrinal errors do not appear in only the poorly written songs. Also, I understand that what I consider to be cacophonous and banal may be beautiful to others, and so I readily admit that there is a subjective component to some of the songs on this list, but I have tried to consider the songs as objectively as possible.

I receive many emails about this portion of the website, and I am always happy to read your comments, whether supportive or not. For those in the latter category, the purpose of this web page is very clearly stated above, and I ask that you please read it carefully before you send me an email.

For more information about music in worship, please click here.

And now for the songs...

We Bow Down by Twila Paris (1984) (#577)

Please read my comments above about this song. This song incorrectly teaches that Jesus is not presently the King of kings and Lord of lords. It also incorrectly teaches that we have crowned Jesus king, making one wonder who is bowing down before whom!

But you must make Jesus Lord of your life, right? Wrong. If Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, then doesn't that mean he is already Lord of your life? Of course! What we need to do is acknowledge his Lordship and obey his word. Man cannot make Jesus Lord of anything. Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of everything! (Acts 10:36; Rev. 17:14) In Acts 2:37, those who had just heard the very first gospel sermon asked Peter, "What must we do?" Peter did not say, "You must make Jesus the Lord of your life." In fact, that answer would have made absolutely no sense because Peter had just said in Acts 2:36 that "God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Jesus was already Lord of their lives! Is that the gospel we are proclaiming when we sing #577, or are we proclaiming another gospel?

This song also provides a sad example of the humanism that infects many of these problem songs. According to this song, Jesus becomes King and Lord only when men obey him; we, rather than God, make him King. In this song, man is the fixed point with Jesus being the one that changes. But what does the Bible say? "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8) (Another popular song, #155, even has us placing Jesus in the highest place! Yes, Jesus is in the highest place, but no, we did not place him there.)

Finally, many readers have noted that the much older song "King of my life, I crown thee now" (#332) has a similar problem. I agree. We shouldn't sing that song either. We do not crown Jesus king. Period.

Lamb of God by Twila Paris (1985) (#176)

"Your gift of love they crucified, They laughed and scorned Him as He died, The humble King they named a fraud And sacrificed the Lamb of God." The angry mob did not sacrifice the son of God; they murdered the son of God. (Acts 5:30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.") Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice on our behalf. (Hebrews 9:26 "but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.") See also John 10:18; Gal. 1:4; Eph. 5:2; Titus 2:14; and 1 Cor. 5:7. Some would say it seems like such a small point, but do you really think Jesus sees it that way? Please read those verses and think carefully about what they say, and watch this short video:

Shine, Jesus, Shine by G. Kendrick (#290)

This song is part of what I call the "Get Busy, Jesus" medley. In this song we command Jesus to shine, we command the Spirit to blaze, and we command Jesus to send forth his word. Jesus will shine in this world when his church is the light of the world. The Spirit will blaze when the Lord's church proclaims and lives the Spirit-inspired Word of God. Jesus has already sent forth his word, but perhaps his church could follow his great commission and proclaim that word. In short, rather than telling Jesus to get busy, why don't we get busy instead? Hasn't Jesus already done his part? (John 19:30, Romans 10:6-7, Matthew 5:14-16, Phil. 2:15-16)

He Lives by A. H. Ackley (1933) (#346)

"You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart." If anyone ever asks you how you know that Jesus lives, please give them a better answer than that! The evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is overwhelming. (See 1 Peter 3:15.)

Follow Me by Ira F. Stamphill (1953) (#395)

"If just a cup of water I place within your hand, then just a cup of water is all that I demand." The author of this song must never have read the parable of the talents! If just a single talent I place within your hand, then just a single talent is all that I demand?

Father (Traditional) (#789)

"Father, show me now that you love me." Show me now that you love me?? Yes, Father, I know that you sent your only begotten son to die on the cross for my sins --- but what have you done for me lately? We should sing and pray instead that we will show God that we love Him. And how do we do that? By our obedience to his word. See John 14:15. "Please show me how you care for me." Hasn't God already done that? Take up and read!

Farther Along by W. B. Stevens (1911) (#753)

"Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long, while there are others living about us, never molested tho in the wrong. Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why." On the one hand, a similar question is asked in Jeremiah 12:1. Yet, on the other hand, I think that we as Christians living this side of the cross have the answer to that question now and don't need to wait until we are farther along to understand why.

Celebrate Jesus by Gary Oliver (1988) (#169)

"Celebrate Jesus, celebrate!" This phrase has become very popular among the denominations. When told the truth regarding baptism, for example, they respond, "Let's just celebrate Jesus. Isn't that all we really need to do?" What does it mean to "celebrate Jesus" anyway? Can we celebrate him without loving him? One would think not. And what does it mean to love Jesus? We show our love for him by obeying his word. (John 14:15) Instead of singing "celebrate Jesus," why don't we sing "obey Jesus"? It is easier to understand and leaves much less room for misunderstanding. Oh, but "celebrate Jesus" gives us a lot more wiggle room, doesn't it!

Heavenly Father, We Appreciate You (Traditional) (#141)

And as a small token of our appreciation, we are going to sing this trite little song. (Please see my comments above regarding opportunity cost.)

Just a Little Talk with Jesus by Cleavant Derricks (1937) (#959)

This song teaches that we are saved by having a talk with Jesus -- that is, by the so-called Sinner's Prayer that is trumpeted by much of the denominational world. What does the Bible say about that? Saul had a little talk with Jesus on the road to Damascus, but he was not saved until a few days later when he was baptized. (Acts 22:16)

Jesus is Coming Soon (1942) (#712)

Jesus is coming soon? "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." (Mark 13:32) When these signs comes to pass? "But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." (Matt. 24:43-44) Need I say more?

Above All Else (1988) by Kirk Dearman (#171)

This song is very typical of a number of the modern, humanistic songs that appear throughout the book "Songs of Faith and Praise." Why is it humanistic? Because in this song it is man, rather than God, who is the fixed point. "We place you at the highest place," the songs states. Really? I agree that God is in the highest place -- but did we place him there? Hardly! That is certainly true of idols, which can be placed here and there at the whim of their creators -- but is that true of God? Of course not. We may recognize that God is in the highest place, but we did not "place" him there. It is interesting to look at the verse cited below the title of this song in "Songs of Faith and Praise." The editors chose Philippians 2:9, which says that God gave Jesus the name above all other names. After singing this song, perhaps we should change that verse to read that we gave Jesus that name! Wouldn't that be consistent with what we are being asked to sing? Or perhaps we should just change the song to fit the Bible instead of changing the Bible to fit the song. Now there's an idea!

God's Plan of Salvation

You Must Hear the Gospel

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

You Must Believe

You must believe and have faith in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You Must Repent

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You Must Confess

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.” Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

You Must Be Baptized for the Remission of Sins

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

You Must Be Faithful Unto Death

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God’s grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God’s grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)

What is the church of Christ?

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus promised to build a church. In Acts 2:47, Luke tells us that people were being added to that church. Thus, we can conclude that Jesus built His church sometime between His promise in Matthew 16 and Luke’s statement in Acts 2. Indeed, a closer study of the events in Acts 2 reveals that the Lord’s church was established on that first day of Pentecost following the Lord’s resurrection when Peter preached the first gospel sermon. That church is the church of Christ.

A common misconception about the church of Christ is that “The Church of Christ” is its name. It is not. The “church of Christ” is its description. The church of Christ is the church that belongs to Christ, that was established by Christ, that was built by Christ, and that was bought by Christ. It is not our church; it is His church, the Lord’s church. We are not voted into the church by men, and we do not join a church the way some might join a country club. Instead, God adds us to His church when we obey His gospel.

Are those in the church of Christ the only people who are going to be saved? Of course they are! God adds people to His church when they are saved. If you are not in the Lord’s church, then you are not saved. If you are saved, then you are in the Lord’s church. To be saved outside of the church of Christ is to be saved outside of the body of Christ – and that can never happen. Jesus is not just a way to the Father; he is the way to the Father. As Jesus said in John 14:6, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Thus, the real question is not what is the church of Christ, but is rather how do you become a part of the church of Christ? That question was asked in the first century as it is asked today, and the answer remains the same. We are saved and added to the Lord’s church when we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like the Apostle Paul, we are saved when our sins are washed away at our baptism.

There is one church of Christ. If you are a member of something else or something more or something less, then you are not serving God according to His plan or according to His will. He wants you to be a Christian and only a Christian, wearing only the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the head and the savior of the church, His body.

Want to know more? Here are 10 things everyone should understand about the church, here are some common misconceptions about the church, and here is how God views the church.

What Must I Do?

What must I do? That same question was asked in Acts 2:37 at the end of the very first gospel sermon ever preached. Before we look at Peter’s answer in verse 38, let’s look at some answers Peter did NOT give.

What must I do? John Calvin answers, “Nothing!” According to Calvin, there is nothing we must do and nothing we can do. Each of us has already been personally predestined to Heaven or Hell without regard to anything we do on Earth, and so, logically, according to Calvin, the only answer to the question in Acts 2:37 is “Nothing.” But that is NOT how Peter answered that question.

What must I do? Many preachers today answer, “You must make Jesus the Lord of your life.” But that answer makes absolutely no sense then or now! Peter had just said in Acts 2:36 that “God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Jesus was already Lord of their lives! Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, which means he is your Lord and your King whether or not you obey him or believe him. We obey Jesus because he is Lord and King – not to make him Lord and King.

What must I do? Many preachers today answer, “You must pray the sinner’s prayer and invite the Lord Jesus into you heart.” But no one in the Bible was ever told to do that. In fact, Paul prayed after he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), and yet Paul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always (Acts 10:2), and yet there remained something he still had to do after calling for Peter (Acts 10:6). If praying the sinner’s prayer was all that Paul and Cornelius needed to do, then why were Ananias and Peter needed?

What must I do? Listen as Peter answers that question: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38) That answer has not changed one bit in the intervening 2000 years. If your preacher is telling you something different, then you need a new preacher! “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

Want to know more? Here is God's Plan of Salvation.

Tips for Song Leaders

1. Whenever possible, choose songs that fit the theme of the sermon. And when the preacher requests that you sing a particular song, make every effort to accomodate the request unless the song has a doctrinal problem or you are unable to sing it. If the song is in the latter category, then perhaps you should let someone else lead singing that day.

2. Always sing the final verse of the invitation song following the sermon. People sometimes wait to respond until the last possible moment, and when you cut the song short without warning you deprive them of that opportunity.

3. You should lead invitation songs that are actually invitation songs. (This task is difficult with Songs of Faith and Praise because, although that book includes over 1000 songs, the editors chose to include very few invitation songs. See a list of missing songs below.)

4. Always ask the congregation to stand for the song right before the sermon. This is not just a meaningless tradition; it is done as a favor to the speaker. Anyone who has ever done much public speaking knows how important it is for people to move around a bit just before a lengthy presentation. It greatly increases their attention to the speaker.

Songs that are NOT in the book "Songs of Faith and Praise"

Do you miss them?

God is Calling the Prodigal
There's a Great Day Coming
I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
Who At the Door is Standing?
Why Do You Wait?
Will You Come?
I Am Coming to the Cross
I Am Praying for You
Is Thy Heart Right With God?
Jesus is Calling (Why Should I Linger?)
Would You Live for Jesus?
Prepare to Meet Thy God
Soul, A Savior Thou Art Needing
While Jesus Whispers To You
While We Pray and While We Plead
Oft We Come Together
Almost Persuaded
Are You Coming to Jesus Tonight?
Come to Jesus
Come to the Feast (All Things Are Ready)
I am Coming, Lord (complete)
Here Me When I Call
What Will Your Answer Be?

Baptism in the Bible

Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:36

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Acts 22:16

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Romans 6:3

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Romans 6:4

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Ephesians 4:5

One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Colossians 2:12

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

1 Peter 3:21

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Want to Know More?

Please read this lesson on baptism from our series of lessons on Thought Provoking Questions.

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Problem Songs: From the Banal to the Blasphemous

Don't Make the Same Mistake Others Have Made! "Songs of Faith and Praise" can be Hazardous to your Worship Service!